1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d6?

“Not strictly speaking a mistake but a passive reply whereby Black gets a bad game. Instead he should play 3... Nf6! 4. d4 (other moves, such as 4. d3, 4. Qc2 and 4. Bd3 allow Black to strike in the centre with 4... d5!) 4... Nxe4 5. d5 Ne7 6. Nxe5 Ng6 7. Bd3 Nxe5 8. Bxe4 Bc5=.”

4. Bc4 Na5 5. Be2 c5 6. b4 Nc6 7. b5 Na5 8. d4 Qc7 9. O-O Nf6 10. Re1 Be7

“10... Nxe4 is bad while the Black King is opposed by the White Rook so Black first screens the King and prepares to castle.”

11. Bf1 O-O 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nbd2 Rfe8 14. Nb3 c4 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bxc4 Bxb5 17. Bxf7+!

“Brilliantly exposing the artificiality of Black's set-up. He lacks any control of key central sequares and his Wueen and Bishop are misplaced on the Queen's wing. Getting one's pieces off the back rank in the opening does not constitute “development” in the real sense.”

17... Kxf7 18. dxe5 Ba4

“If 18... dxe5 19. Qb3+ Kg6 (or 19... Kf8 20. Nxe5 wins) 20. Nxe5+ Kh5 21. Qd1+ Kh4 22. Kh2 winning.”

19. Qd4 Nd7 20. e6+! Kxe6 21. Qc4+ Kf6 22. Ng5

“Threatening Qe6 or Qf7 mate.”

22... d5 23. e5+! Nxe5 24. Rxe5!!

“A fitting end to a beautifully conducted attack. If 24... dxc4 25. Re6+ Kf5 26. g4#.”

1-0

Annotator(s): Michael Crowe (see Source) (excerpted above).

Source(s): Evening Echo, December 7, 1982 p. 15 (Jim Olney); Fiacla Fichille, vol. 2, no. 21, December 1986, p. 10 (Michael Crowe).

Reference(s): "Chess position", Cork Examiner, August 10, 1982 p. 2 (Jim Olney) (puzzle based on position after Black's 16th move).

Event information: Tournament report.